Before the first lesson, ask a tutor four kinds of question: what qualifies them to teach this subject at this grade, how they will find out what your child is missing, how you will know it is working, and what happens when plans change. Twelve questions cover it.
You do not need to ask all twelve in one message. Read the tutor’s profile first, since several answers may already be there, then ask the ones that are left.
About their background
- What are you certified to teach, and by whom? A teaching certification means the tutor has been tested on the subject and on how to teach it. Ask which subject and which grades it covers.
- Which grades and courses do you teach most often? Someone who is excellent with high school chemistry may not be the right person for a second grader’s reading.
- Has anyone checked your credentials? If you found the tutor through a service, ask the service what it verifies before a tutor is listed. If you found them privately, ask to see the certificate.
About how they teach
- How will you work out where my child is stuck? Listen for a method: looking at recent tests, watching the child work a problem, asking them to explain their thinking. “We’ll just go over the homework” is a weaker answer.
- What does a typical lesson with you look like? You want to hear that your child will be doing most of the work, with the tutor watching and correcting.
- Will you follow what the class is doing? Tell the tutor the textbook or program the school uses, and ask whether they will work from the same material.
- What should my child do between lessons? Ten minutes of the right practice between lessons is often what makes a weekly lesson stick.
About progress
- What would you aim for in the first month? A specific answer, such as “multi-step equations” or “a five-sentence paragraph”, gives you something to check.
- How will you tell me how it is going? A two-minute summary at the end of each lesson or a short message afterwards is enough. Agree on it at the start.
- When would you say my child no longer needs you? A tutor who can answer this is working toward your child’s independence.
About the practical side
- What happens if we need to cancel or move a lesson? Know the notice period and what you get back before you pay, not after.
- How do lessons happen, and who can be in the room? For online lessons, ask which video tool is used and confirm that you are welcome to sit in, especially with a younger child.
What a good answer sounds like
Specific and unhurried. A tutor who knows their subject can say what they would do in the first lesson without having met your child, and will also say what they would need to find out first. Be cautious about promises of a particular grade or score. No tutor controls that, and the good ones do not claim to.
Common questions
What matters more: the tutor’s qualifications or how my child gets on with them?
You need both. Qualifications tell you the tutor knows the subject and how to teach it. Rapport decides whether your child will ask the question they are embarrassed about. Check the first on the profile and the second in the first lesson.
Is it rude to ask a tutor about their background?
No. A good tutor expects it and answers plainly. Be wary of anyone who avoids the question.
This guide is general information for parents. It is not an assessment of your child and does not replace advice from your child’s teacher or doctor.
